The 2017 Kawasaki ZX-10RR Homologation Special

[cid=167336,https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SMS9Bl753hk/hqdefault.jpg]

Kawasaki is not currently competing in MotoGP, nor will they be in the upcoming 2017 season. For this reason the company places a great deal of effort into production based race leagues like WSBK, MotoAmerica and BSB to name a few. In recent years the ZX-10R has won a lot of races. It's a great bike, it's powerful, has up-to-date electronics systems and has been tuned and refined to become a very competitive machine.

Yamaha's new R1 allowed them to be much more successful recently, giving the ZX-10R a serious run for its money. Honda hasn't done quite as well in recent years in production based racing with their CBR1000RR being considered an outdated bike even several years ago. But with 2017 seeing the a new CBR1000RR, the SP2, it looks like they have a real chance of winning again. In 2017 Suzuki is also going to be releasing its lightest and most powerful GSXR1000 ever, with variable valve timing used in its MotoGP machines. It probably became increasingly known by Kawasaki that they're going to need to step it up in 2017 in order to remain competitive and this meant a new or updated bike.

To compete in production based racing, a minimum number of machines must be made available for sale to the public in order for the bike to qualify as a "production model". Manufacturers have found a way to not break this rule, but to bend it. By producing the exact minimum number of machines needed to qualify, companies can build an elite race bike without having to mass produce it, but can still use this elite bike in production racing. This is what's referred to as a Homologation special and this is just what Kawasaki has done and because of this, the ZX-10RR was born.

This new bikes appearance is almost identical to the stock single R'd model, aside from a cool looking "RR" engraved in the bikes engine covers and a cool matching key. Strangely the doubled R version of the ZX10 comes with a snowflake sticker on the windscreen and tail as well because, why not? What makes this bike special is the updates to the inside of the bike. It sports a full electronics package, including an up and down quick shifter, 6-axis traction control, intelligent anti-lock brakes combined with cornering management system, launch control, wheelie control and electronic engine braking control. It also comes with lighter 7-spoke Marchesini rims and Pirelli's DiabloCorsa SP tyres. Its internal hardware has been upgraded and in some cases DLC coated for reduced friction and to better deal with the stress of race tuning and performance. The bike is only available in an all black livery and only 500 units will be made. No word on price is available yet. Will this be what Kawasaki needs to remain on top in production based racing? Time will tell.

[cid=167330,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/NYMRfbsBTfnm068m9SaEW8zKZB8=/fit-in/600x600/1nCp1cMQHWr0X68CYh8n_image.png]

[cid=167331,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/P-K5K631UP96axV7NYGTmWY6-Hc=/fit-in/600x600/ISNOrx4BTxqDKXqpC5VA_image.png]

[cid=167332,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/O_TRzFoq3dFQ_loUfEQbYeRf7wI=/fit-in/600x600/1eBBdrojTgC8oIopixef_image.png]

[cid=167333,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/zcZcCJXQGGliWjhchh4ziWur5r4=/fit-in/600x600/B8wPCWvgSWWjKveH5Bb8_image.png]

[cid=167334,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/LsBxF-Fo9J9-cZfWC9KIKgLp1tI=/fit-in/600x600/g4dfIvCMTLCaDfRj9kYt_image.png]

[cid=167335,https://dn3bmh8yk8vvw.cloudfront.net/oNU20W-rO03Fhmq-LlU6BTbOBPE=/fit-in/600x600/5KZz9YzSh6XgfwWlB09X_image.png]